Binding of books



E. M. GETZOF F BINDING OF BOOKS July 25, 1950 Filed June 5, 1947 G O O INVENTOR -EDWARD: M. GETZOFF ATTORNEYS Patented July 25, 1950 Edward M. Getzoff, Red Bank, N. J.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to De 'Florez Engineering Company, Incorporated, a corporation-of Connecticut I Application June 3, 194? Serial No. 752,099

This invention relates to the binding of books vand particularly to the rounding operation in forming the'joint and provides not only an improved rounding means but an improved method of rounding books.

At this time the rounding operation is performed mechanically .with a metal bar having a concaved surface that is pressed against the binding edge and given an oscillatory or rocking motion to iron over the pages to the arcuate shape of the bar. It is the object to flare the ends of the pages outwardly in both directions from the center. It frequently happens that the rounding bar is not properly located with respect to the longitudinal center line of the binding edge and when the bar is brought into contact with the pages the spreading is apt to be irregular. In fact, it is not uncommon that th page ends are scuffed, resulting in inferior joints.

I have discovered that the binding edge may be rounded from its original flat position in such manner that the page ends are flared out uniformly in both directions from the longitudinal center line of the binding edge. Th pages are not given a reverse bend or crush as frequently occurs with present equipment. In accordance with my invention, I press a resilient member, such as a block of soft rubber, against the flat binding edge while the pages are held in a clamp and spread the pages outwardly in a uniform and certain manner. One of the amazing features of my invention is that I can use a bearing surface on the rubber block with various shapes and accomplish substantially the same result. For example, I may use a bearing surface that is flat, concave, convex, angular, or stepped, or combinations thereof, and produce about the same rounding result. One dominant characteristic is that the result is uniform. The resilient member may be formed of resilient rubber, such as rubber having a durometer of from to 55, or of any equivalent rubber-like or plastic material. I may make one part of the resilient member, for example the center, of a fairly soft rubber, say, 30 durometer, and the sides of a harder rubber, say, of 55 durometer.

These and other features of the invention will be better understood after considering the following discussion taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a rounding device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another view similar to Fig. 2 of the devices in use;

4 Claims. (Cl; 11-5) Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, illustrate end views of modified forms of resilient members, and" Fig. 9 is a side view, more or less diagrammatic, of a modified form of rounding device of the invention.

The" rounding device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a metal bar I with a channel 2 in which the resilient rubber rounding member 3 'is inserted. The rounding member is held in position by the side plate 4 which is attached to the bar I by several bolts 5. "The resilient member is rectangular in cross section and has a flat upper bearing or rounding surface 6. The bar I is attached to a shaft l which may be moved in the rounding operation in a reciprocal direction as shown by the arrow;8, oriinarcuate direction as shown by the arrow 9.

Fig. 3 shows the form of of the resilient member 3 when it is pressed into contact with a book It. The flow of the rubber causes it to assume an arcuate shape which gives the desired rounded binding edge [2 to the book. It is one of the peculiar characteristics of the invention that the hinged joints l3 and M canbe flared out at right angles to the pages of the book merely by pressing the resilient member into contact with the binding edge of the book. A similar, though slightly modified, rounding action may be achieved by pressing upward against the binding edge and oscillating the shaft 1 in the direction of the arrow 9. As the rubber yields, it has a tendency to spread outwardly from the longitudinal center 0 of the binding edge and thereby impart the desired uniform flare to the pages. Any tendency for the pages to bend inwardly in the opposite direction intended is overcome by the outward motion of the rubber.

One of the unexpected features of th invention is that the bearing surface may be given various shapes as; for example, surfaces l5, l6, l1 and l 8 of Figs. 4 to '7, respectively. Each of these surfaces causes the pages to be flared outwardly as described.

Fig. 8 illustrates a form of resilient member formed of a central piece of rubber 20 which is relatively soft, say durometer 30, and two exterior pieces of harder rubber 2|, say durometer 55.

Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment of my invention in which the resilient member is in the form of rubber tires 22 on the rigid pressure-applying members in the form of the power-driven wheels 23. Each of these tires has a relatively soft exterior tread which yields sufiiciently to give the flaring action described. The tires may be solid or pneumatic and may have exterior bearing surfaces like those shown in Figs. 2 to 8. The books B are moved along on a conveyor and held between clamps (not shown) and are carried over the tires 22. The wheels 23 are so set with respect to the binding edges of the books that an appreciable pressure is applied thereto with the result that the edges of the pages are flared outwardly to form the joints. While the wheels 23 ma be freely rotating, and driven by contact with the books, it is preferable to drive them by other means with the same peripheral speed as the travel of the books.

While rubber is the most advantageous form of material for the resilient members, it is under stood that any rubber-like material or plastic having the required resiliency may be used.

At the present time it is necessary to use rounding bars having different arcuate surfaces for books of different thickness. When I use a resilient member with a, flat bearing surface I can use it to round all sizes of books.

I claim: 1. A device for rounding the binding edges of books and for providing joints at the sides of the binding edges comprising, a rounding member having a resilient deformable binding-edge-engaging face, means for supporting said rounding member and means for pressing the deformable face into contact with the binding edge to deform ing edge comprising firmly holding the book adjacent its binding edge, pressing the binding edge being adapted to engage the outer leaves of the binding edge, said central portion being more resilient and deformable than said outer portions, means for supporting said rounding member and means for pressing the deformabl face portions into contact with the binding edge to concavely deform said face and correspondingly to convexly deform the binding edges.

- 4. A device according to claim 1; in which the rounding member=is a tire and the supporting member is a wheel supporting said tire.

EDWARD M. GETZOFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 24,425 Collin June 14,1859 753,413 Lovell Mar. *1, 1904 1,263,273 Murray Aprp16, 1918 1,864,557 Schramm June 28, 1932 2,010,810

Bredenberg 'Aug. 13, 1935 

